McRae education minister, Hansen on government committees

Comox Valley MLA Don McRae was named education minister Wednesday morning as Premier Christy Clark announced her new cabinet.

McRae was minister of agriculture before the cabinet shuffle.

He is also on the prestigious priorities and planning committee with the premier, Rich Coleman, Pat Bell, Michael de Jong, G.P. Vanier grad Colin Hansen and others.

McRae is on the Cabinet Working Group on Family Affordability and Cabinet Committee on Families First. Hansen, finance minister under Gordon Campbell, is also on the Treasury Board.

The new cabinet has 16 ministers and two ministers of state, plus the premier. No new ministries were added.

There is a new cabinet working group focused on family affordability, and the cabinet committee on jobs and economic growth now includes skills training.

The Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation has been realigned as the Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training, with the same minister also responsible for Labour. The Ministry for Advanced Education is now also responsible for Innovation and Technology.

Additionally, nine MLAs have been named as parliamentary secretaries, and will work with ministers to focus on key initiatives of government, such as independent schools, student support and engagement, Asia-Pacific, and forestry. Doug Horne will serve as the parliamentary secretary to the Premier.

Mike de Jong will serve as the Government House Leader and Terry Lake will be the Deputy Government House Leader. Eric Foster will be the Government Whip and Pat Pimm will be Deputy Whip.

Parliamentary Secretaries:

Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier – Doug Horne

Parliamentary Secretary for Rural Communities to the Minister Community, Sport and Cultural Development – Donna Barnett